School officers scrapped as council counts coppers

A FLAGSHIP council scheme to fund extra police officers has been scrapped. Rochdale Council had been paying Greater Manchester Police £250,000 a year to fund one extra police officer in each of the four townships.

SCRAPPED ... one of the extra police officers who had been placed in schools.

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A FLAGSHIP council scheme to fund extra police officers has been scrapped.

Rochdale Council had been paying Greater Manchester Police £250,000 a year to fund one extra police officer in each of the four townships.

But now town hall bosses have revealed the policy will be scrapped after just two years due to funding pressures.

The officers had been placed in schools, a policy which has since been launched across Greater Manchester leaving Rochdale as the only authority who were continuing to subsidise the scheme.

Council leader, Councillor Alan Taylor, said: "We have been victims of our own success. Our idea has been closely monitored by police bosses and rolled out throughout Greater Manchester via the policy levy - the contribution through council tax.

"It was felt that under the current climate we should expect the police to pay."

Councillor Taylor added he hoped the officers already stationed in schools would continue to work with pupils, but said the authority was no longer willing to subsidise them. He added: "We have asked GMP why we should be the only authority that is actually paying extra for this and will start negotiations shortly to retain this service.

"Our council is currently in the middle of an efficiency programme and it was felt that this 'enhanced' service should be funded by existing police resources."

Plans to pay for extra police officers were agreed in 2008 in response for calls from residents to see more bobbies on the beat.

GMP opted to use the cash to partly base officers in schools to engage with pupils.

The council, who are attempting to save £100m over the next five years, say they are no longer willing to pay for the service despite it being a success.

Rochdale Council's police authority member Councillor Barbara Todd said: "Rochdale Council's proactive approach to community policing has been a great success. It has led to increased pupil engagement with officers and encouraged respect by pupils to officers. It is clear though that with other authorities getting this service 'free', our council shouldn't now be forced to cough up extra."

The cash for the scheme will run out next spring when it is hoped GMP will fund the extra officers.